The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-01

anu SHOES, anu OUl6T OuuS huu Guuo Nv
the rear of his shop. Tommy could
also sing a capital tenor in the choir at
the meeting house whenever the black
smith from the opposite end of the town
failed to put in an appearance. While
Tommy was very proud of his ability as
a vocalist, he seldom gave thought to
his newly acquired Official dignity and
power, and once when Lutte Briggs
called to ask a little advice relating to
a quit-claim deed or something of the
kind, Tommy said to him: "You jes
drop in on Squire Rice over to the
burgh and he'll give it to you from the
books. l amt got time to bother. "
Jerusha Bennett was rosy-faced,
bright, active, healthy and sensible,
and as a housekeeper she ranked with
the best. She had fair education, and
for three months previous to the event
which shook Steele's Landing to the
very center of its half-mile diameter,
she had been going over to the burgh
once a week to take music lessons. She
was already the recognized organist at
the Westinghouse, and her present pur-
suit of musical knowledge was in order
that she might better manipulate the
new piano Bildad had placed in his
parlor on her last birthday. Being
handsome and, for the place and her
surroundings, quite accomplished
"Rushy," as her father called her, had
many admirers. The most important
one in the eyes of the villagers was the
| n gly
months away from Andover, who
preached at the burgh every Sunday
morning and at the Landing every Sun
day evening. For these admirers, includ-
ing the preacher, Bildad had no favor,
and he had been heard to remark that
"there amt no one this side of York
State good enough for Rusty" As for
the Rev. Rice, he was good enough as a
preacher, thought BiIdad, "but then,
don't want Rusty to marry a man
what don't know nothin' but books.
At this, Tommy Cassel said to Bildad:
"Well, the preacher is shinin' up to
Rusty like all git out, and l snum! !
don't blame him" Bildad answered.
"'Twon't do no good s long s | have
!
"Pll just bet my best leg" said Tom
my-he had one stiff knee-ioint, and
whenever he desired to be particularly
emphatic he offered to wager his chest
leg-"that when 'Rusby gifts married,
old Bildad won't have nothin' to say
bout it unless he says yes"
Bildad and Tommy had been warm
friends for upward of thirty years and
until Tommy had so frankly expressed
himself, the two never had serious diff
ferences of opinion This speech, how.
ever, proved to be the turning point in
the very long lane and for the next
week or two the villagers couldn't help
commenting on the fact that Bildad anC
Tommy had assumed a cold demeanor
toward each other. A few questioned
the principals as to the ca Sc but no eX,
PLANTATION was vouchsafed and accord
ingly the gossips had full sway. Some
said it was because Bldad had fore
closed mortgage held by him on {
small sugar-bush across the river owneC
by NJ. Cassel; others remarked tina
Tommy was mad because Bildad hat
gone over to the burgh to get his frs
made-tO-Order boots. 1t was about THU
time that Jerusha Bennett was ridin!
over to the burgh and her music lessor
in Lutte Briggs stage, when Lutte aske,
her as to the cause of the breach be
tween her father and old Tommy. Tn
! girl tried to look embarrassed, as muc
as to say Cant you guees?' and Lut
Z ] ~ clp l.,
, whiplash into the snow along the road
. as though trying to study out the prob
9 lem. Don't s'pose father sees how
t things are goin'P" said Jerusha, an,
l Lutte allowed that he hoped the old gen
! tleman was not wholly blind.
l Il know fathers Jealous said Jc
0 rusha, "but I've kinder hoped all alon
d he wouldn't be jealous of you"
: He'd be all right if that preache
: would keep away and if old Tomm
hadn't goaded him on" said Lutte, an
. just as he had finished speaking tn
. preacher, Rev.G. Banks Rice, appeare
! up the road, driving toward the Lane
. ing, He was going to hold watch-mee
. ing services at the burgh that evenin
. in honor of the new year which was t
u begin the following day As he passe
. Jerusha and Lutte with bow he NJ
. tced that their cheeks were very niue
} flushed and they, in turn, felt that the
> had discovered strong supercilious e7
= pressions in the preachers look
u Tommy told your father" said Lut,
= THAT you wouldn't marry any man III
u less you liked him -
= did he tell him that?" said Jerush.
: can I'm sure you don't like til
. preacher" continued Lutte.
- "You know, Lutte Briggs, Just as we
~ as you want to know, who l like" sa
II Jerusha, IAN you know l won't mari
I, anybody else for father, old Tomm
y the preacher, or the whole world.
i What else was said by Lutte al
/ Rusty during that ride is private pro
rs erty. suffice it to say the music lessC
h was taken, Lutte got the mail, and t
m gether the stage-driver and his swee
N heart drove back to the burgh, reachir
o. there just before supper time. 1t w
. noticed that Lutte hurried to the DO,
Y Office with the mail; thathe made has
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